The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that there was no proof of NGOs affiliated with team Anna and Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption using foreign funds for anti-corruption agitation or political purpose.
It said enquiries into the functioning of Navjyoti India Foundation and
India Vision Foundation run by Kiran Bedi and NGO ‘Kabir’ of which Manish Sisodia was the patron was carried out and there was no ground at present to initiate a criminal investigation as only minor “accounting” irregularities were found. The affidavit said Sisodia’s NGO received foreign funds worth Rs. 2,22,01892 since 2005.

“These irregularities are not serious enough at this stage to warrant a criminal investigation. During inspection, no documentary proof in the records of the association was found to show the use of the funds in any such political activity or in IAC movement or agitation”, said a Home Ministry affidavit.

It came in response to a PIL filed by one Manohar Lal Sharma demanding CBI probe into the “foreign-sponsored agitations in the country spearheaded by the NGOs under the banner of Team Anna and India Against Corruption”. It alleged Team Anna got foreign funding in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The MHA affidavit filed by centre’s lawyer Sumeet Pushkarna said the conclusion was arrived on the basis of inspection of the offices of these NGOs, scrutiny of utilization of foreign contribution received by them and other documents. A Bench headed by chief justice D Murugesan will take up the affidavit for hearing on January 17.